Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Jake Bischoff competed for the Grand Rapids Bantam A squad that advanced to the Minnesota State Tournament.

2010-11: Bischoff skated in 27 games for Minnesota’s Grand Rapids HS as a sophomore. He scored 5 goals with 24 assists and was plus-25 with 14 penalty minutes. After finishing under .500 in 2009-10, the Thunderhawks reached the Section 7AA finals, falling to perennial state power Duluth East, 2-1, in overtime.

2011-12: Bischoff played for Team North in the Upper Midwest Elite League prior to his junior season at Grand Rapids and made his USHL debut with the Omaha Lancers after the Thunderhawks were shocked by Forest Lake, 3-2, in the Section 7AA playoffs. He scored 4 goals with 7 assists and had 4 penalty minutes in 21 games for Team North. He scored 11 goals with 29 assists and was an even plus/minus with 17 penalty minutes for Grand Rapids. Prior to the sectional loss, the Thunderhawks had won 9 of 10 games and had defeated Forest Lake, 6-0, at the beginning of the season. Bischoff skated in 10 games for the Lancers and was an even plus/minus with 1 assist and two penalty minutes. He committed to playing college hockey at the University of Minnesota in 2014-15. Ranked 147th in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft, he was selected by the Islanders in the seventh round (185th overall).

2012-13: Bischoff played 12 USHL games with Omaha, returning from an early season injury to receive Minnesota high school hockey’s Reed Larson award as the state’s top defensemen as a senior, before finishing the year with the Lancers. He played in one game with the Omaha in the fall before the injury and returned following his senior season at Grand Rapids. Bischoff was minus-6 with 2 assists for Omaha. After missing the first nine games of the high school season, he scored 8 goals with 17 assists in 19 games for Grand Rapids. The Thunderhawks reached the Section 7AA finals against Duluth East before falling 4-3.

2013-14: Bischoff made the jump directly from Minnesota high school hockey to the college level; skating in 28 games as part of a crowded blue line for the Minnesota Golden Gophers in his freshman season. He scored 3 goals, including two game-winners, and had 4 assists — finishing +15 with 8 penalty minutes. Minnesota finished first in the newly-formed Big Ten hockey conference and advanced to the Frozen Four championship game. After an upset loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament semifinals the Gopher defeated Robert Morris and St. Cloud State to capture the NCAA West Regional and then defeated North Dakota, 2-1, with a game-winning short-handed goal in the game’s final second. Union defeated Minnesota, 7-4, in the championship game.

2014-15: Bischoff skated in 36 of 39 games for the University of Minnnesota in his sophomore season. He scored 3 goals with 8 assists and was +10 with no penalties. The Golden Gophers finished first in the Big 10 and captured the league’s only NCAA tournament berth, defeating Michigan, 4-2, in the conference championship game. Minnesota fell to in-state rival Minnesota-Duluth, 4-1, in the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinals.

Talent Analysis

Bischoff is a skating defenseman who concentrates on his own end. Not overly abrasive despite the size to play that type of game, he uses his skills and hockey knowledge to prevent scoring opportunities and distribute the puck to create a transition.He is still developing physically and will have to continue to add strength and bulk if he is to compete at the professional level in the future.

Future

Bischoff is in his junior season at the University of Minnesota in 2015-16. Part of a defense unit that features seven NHL draftees, the Golden Gophers remain one of the NCAA's top teams despite the departures of Brady Skjei (New York Rangers) and Mike Reilly (Minnesota). Bischoff is an assistant captain and has done well with the added responsibility. With a deep group of defensemen in the Islanders' system he must continue to develop if he is to earn an entry-level contract. Bischoff projects as a reliable, skating defenseman at the pro level.

Photo: Forward Taylor Cammarata has been strong in his freshman season with the University of Minnesota, posting nine goals and 13 assists through 35 games. (courtesy of Brad Rempel/Icon SMI)

New York Islanders GM Garth Snow has shown a tendency to use later round picks on players bound for the NCAA, giving them plenty of time to develop and work on any holes they have in their game. The Islanders have had some success with NCAA players recently drafting star Kyle Okposo as well as prospects such as Matt Donovan, Brock Nelson, or Anders Lee.

Photo: Forward Brock Nelson is one of many prospects who have played some NHL games for the Islanders this season. Nelson was selected 30th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. (courtesy of Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon SMI)

The New York Islanders are starting to reap the rewards of high drafting and solid player development. After years of finishing at the bottom of the standings, the organization has developed a core of young talent who led them to the playoffs in 2013. More help is still on the way too, as the Islanders have quality prospects at every position.

Photo: Defenseman Brenden Kichton is having a brilliant fifth season in the WHL, posting 53 points in 43 games with the Spokane Chiefs. (Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

The New York Islanders have a large group of prospects playing at the junior level, led by former first round picks Griffin Reinhart and Ryan Strome. The Islanders are particularly flush at defense, with eight defensive prospects playing in either the CHL or college prep level.

Photo: Matt Donovan is one of many talented defensive prospects the New York Islanders have in their system. (Jason Mowry/Icon SMI)

The 2012 NHL Entry Draft proved to be very defensive for the New York Islanders as they shocked the hockey world by selecting a defensemen with each of their seven picks. The move gave them great depth on the blue line, where a team can never have enough bodies. In the previous two drafts they selected two high scoring forwards.

Photo: While not a homegrown product, Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice Ted Blueger of Shattuck St. Mary's was the top Minnesota high school pick at the 2012 NHL Draft (courtesy of Aaron Bell/CHL Images)

While high end talent wasn’t there this season in the NHL Draft from the Minnesota high school ranks, there was certainly a quality of depth to be found. With that in mind, here is a look at the picks coming out of the State of Hockey.